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Commission approves code change allowing billboard owners to convert static faces to digital in exchange for removing other sign faces
Summary
The Planning Commission recommended approval of a Land Development Code amendment to let billboard owners reconstruct or reface existing static faces as digital signs in exchange for removing other billboard faces; the revised request expands eligible locations to include a Ridgewood Avenue site as well as I‑95 locations.
The Planning Commission on July 31 approved a text amendment to the Land Development Code that would allow billboard owners to reconstruct or convert existing static sign faces to digital displays in exchange for the removal of other billboard faces within Port Orange.
Tim Burman, city staff, said the item previously was considered in December for I‑95 locations only and that the applicant subsequently asked to include a Ridgewood Avenue location. "The request now has been revised to allow for billboards . . . to be reconstructed or refaced with an LED sign face in exchange for the removal of 2 static sign faces," Burman told the commission.
Representatives from Lamar Advertising explained the trade‑off and presented examples of existing conditions and proposed digital conversions. Peter Costanza, Lamar regional manager, said the company operates widely and that digital displays are used for emergency messaging as well as advertising: "Lamar has over a 160,000 signs across the whole country," he said, and described public‑service uses such as Amber Alerts and emergency information during storms.
Commissioners asked about structural resilience during hurricanes, the brightness of LED faces near residential areas and whether the trade would reduce the total number of billboard faces. Staff and Lamar representatives said any reconstructed structure would require building permits and must meet applicable codes; Burman reiterated the amendment does not allow new billboard locations, only reconstruction at existing sites. The company also said that the conversion would reduce overall sign face area in the corridor: staff noted that replacing four large faces at one US‑1 location would yield a single 380‑square‑foot digital face from a larger existing surface.
Concerns were raised about brightness and nighttime visibility on corridors such as U.S. 1; Burman and the applicant said proposed code standards would include brightness and message‑timing criteria intended to limit visual impacts on neighboring properties. Several commissioners expressed particular concern about locations closer to houses and asked staff to ensure brightness and sightline protections in the final standards.
No members of the public spoke on the item at the hearing. The commission voted to approve the amendment; staff will forward the item through the adopted ordinance process to City Council consistent with the city's code adoption procedures.
(Authorities: staff introduced the proposed Land Development Code text amendment; the amendment retains a 2‑for‑1 removal trade‑off and applies to existing billboard locations on I‑95 and the Ridgewood Avenue site as requested by the applicant.)
